Week 10: Sampdoria - Milan December 6 20:45

[Artan]

Hauge has to start in Genoa, thats a must ... Also Brahim should get playing time too.

[hwmook]

True, so far we are doing excellent with rebic up front.  We keep winning and thats the most important thing.

Rebic up front is good at opening up space, that's why Hauge, Castellijo, Diaz is finding space in the box. Pioli is using the correct tactics with Rebic, Rebic is not a player like Ibra, if we try to use Rebic as a focal point and ask him to hold up play like Ibra then its going to be a problem but we are doing fine with rebic up front.

[Siregar]

Rebic up front is good at opening up space, that's why Hauge, Castellijo, Diaz is finding space in the box. Pioli is using the correct tactics with Rebic, Rebic is not a player like Ibra, if we try to use Rebic as a focal point and ask him to hold up play like Ibra then its going to be a problem but we are doing fine with rebic up front.

Yeah, it is always welcome to have different tactics.

[honsano]

So Rebic opens up space, but he played with Theo so well. That tandem was crucial last season. I wonder if Hauge can adapt to that central role. He clearly can score.

Pioli has to start rotating better. That Kjaer injury is partly on him. Similarly with the Ibra injury.

[nefremo]

I was against Kjaer starting. I feared this would happen and was critical of Pioli at first. Having said that, once I saw Pioli's post match comments, I can see why he did what he did. It was all done to protect Romagnoli. Kjaer felt fine to start, but apparently they didn't want Romagnoli to play every 3 days due to his physical issues of late. They felt like he's getting back in form by playing once a week and staying physically fresh. In short, they were easing him into it ("it" being a game every 3 days).

It makes sense. Kjaer's injury could have happened on thursday or tomorrow. It's hard to tell whether or jot it was cause by "overplaying" and exhaustion. Kjaer is experienced enough to know his body and clearly told Pioli he's good to go.

So that explains Kjaer instead of Romagnoli. Still, no explanations for Krunic though!

As for the Rebic thing...he should be able to open up space and also bang in a couple goals. It's a matter of sharpness for me. He just hasn't been sharp enough in critical moments. But he's still done a good job, and yes, I agree, he opens up space with his movement. He's an intelligent player. Having said that, playing out wide gives you more room for error. So if you're a bit rusty, you're likely to lose the ball when you are central because there is less room and pressure coming from all angles. If you are out wide, you can recover and still do damage. So Rebic is more suited out wide OR making central runs off of Ibra as Ibra will make that initial good contact with the ball, giving Rebic room to run and make his mistakes yet still score.

I don't think he should just play out wide because of Theo connection though. Theo needs to also find a connection with Hauge. And that'll only happen if Hauge plays.

We have options. This is good. For now, Rebic has to play up top. When Ibra is back, things will change obviously.

[xudong]

I guess that Kjaer injury could have been avoided if we had a reliable fourth CB.

[reza]

What getting back? To be honest that doesn't make sense to me unless Romagnoli is still carrying something and we are not told. Older player can play 3 times a week and Romagnoli came back to training in October and was on the pitch over a month ago and he can't?

[Sleeping Giant]

I guess that Kjaer injury could have been avoided if we had a reliable fourth CB.

Whats up with Musacchio

[nefremo]

What getting back? To be honest that doesn't make sense to me unless Romagnoli is still carrying something and we are not told. Older player can play 3 times a week and Romagnoli came back to training in October and was on the pitch over a month ago and he can't?

I agree, but I don't think we know the full story. Clearly he wasn't injured. But it sounds like they felt they can recover his form if he only plays "fresh" and once a week. I can't blame them for that line of thinking, because he was dreadful of late and started doing a bit better only in the last couple games.. But it could be a mental thing too. Either way. What's done is done. Let's see what Gabbia-Romagnoli can do. For me, Kjaer-Gabbia was more solid then Kjaer-Romagnoli this season.

[Arildonardo]

Hauge has to start in Genoa, thats a must ... Also Brahim should get playing time too.

Looks like Diaz - Calhanoglu - Saelemaekers will start. No Hauge.